Automatic contact mechanism for electric-railway systems.



F. HEDLEY, J. S. DOYLE & H. WA

PATENTED JUNE'IB. 1907. LLERSTEDT.

AUTOMATIC CONTACT MECHANISM FOR ELECTRIC RAILWAY SYSTEMS.

APPLIOATION FILED 00T.7 1905.

j "ll l UUL I: :1 ll] QHIIHL T, A 7/7 IMIM 4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

a v /m4 No. 857,059. PATENTED JUNE 18, 1907 F. HEDLEY, J. S. DOYLE & H. WALLERSTEDT.

AUTOMATIC CONTACT MECHANISM FOR ELECTRIC RAILWAY SYSTEMS. APPLICATION-FILED 00127. 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2 PATENTED JUNE 18, 1907. LLERSTEDT.

P. HEDLEY, J S. DOYLE & H. WA AUTOMATIC CONTACT MECHANISM FOR ELEG TRIO RAILWAY SYSTEMSc 1905.

APPLICATION FILED 001'. 7,

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

PATENTED JUNE 18, 1907-- P. HEDLEY, J. S. DOYLE & H. WALLERSTBDT.

MECHANISM FOR ELECTRIC RAILWAY SYSTEMS. APPLICATION FILED 00T.7. mos.

AUTOMATIC CONTACT 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

UNITED sTA s "PATENT oEEIoE.

FRANK HEDLEY, JAMES s. DOYLE, AND HJALMAR WALLERSTEDT, or

NEW YORK, N. Y.

AUTOMATIC CONTACT MECHANISM FOR ELECTRIC-RAILWAY SYSTEMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 18, 1907.

Application filed October 7,1905. Serial No. 281,722.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANK HEDLEY, JAMES S. DOYLE, and HJALMAR l/VALLER- STEDT, citizens of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Automatic Contact Mechanism for Electric-Railway Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic contact mechanism for electric railway systems.

The object of the invention is to provide a contact mechanism for electric railway systems which is simple in construction and effi cient in operation whereby electric cars can .be interchangeably operated on roads where the current carrying conductors are not in uniform relation or position with respect to the track rails of the various roads or systems or portions thereof over which the same cars are designed to be operated.

A further object is to provide a mechanism of the character and for the purpose specified, wherein are employed a plurality of contact members mounted or pivoted upon a common axis and properlyand suitably operated thereon so as to remove either one or another of the contacts from operative position while at the same time enabling the other or another to occupy operative position.

A further object is to provide automatically detachable means for positively engaging and locking one of the several contact members in retracted or inoperative position, and for automatically releasing the other contact member to enable it to attain an operative position.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide means for automatically raising one or the other of the contact members into retracted position, whether the car is proceeding in one direction or another on the same track.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide means of the class and for the purposes mentioned for moving one of a plurality of contact members automatically into retracted position whether the car is moving in one direction or the other along the same track and at the same time automatically releasing the previously retracted contact member to permit the same to move into operative position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a guide mechanism for automatically moving the contact members into retracted position, and so arranged as to relieve the contact member of the shock of impact therewith, and also to compensate for any sidewise movement of the car.

Other objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination, location, and relative arrangement of the parts, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawings, and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, and to the various views and reference signs appearing thereon:l igure 1 is a view in side elevation of a car, its track rails, and current supplying conductor, showing an automatic contact mechanism applied to the car embodying the principles of our invention, the car being shown in position to pass from one portion of the road or system, having its current supply conductor arranged in a particular location with respect to the track rails, to another portion of the road or system hav ing its current supply conductor arranged in another and different relation and location with respect to its track rails, and showing a guide section arranged to effect automatically a retraction of the contact member which cooperates with one of such conductors, and the disengagement of the other contact member from retracted position to enable it to cooperate with the other of said conductors, such guide being constructed to effect the operation referred to whether the car moves along its track rails in one direction or the other. Fig. 2 is a broken detail view in plan of the guide section referred to. Fig. 3 is a broken detail view in elevation showing a portion of the guide rail section. Fig. 4, is a broken detail view in transverse section through a portion of the car truck, and showing the relation of the guide section and a contact member. Fig. 5, is a view in side elevation, of an automatic mechanism embodying the principles of our invention. Fig. 6, is a view in plan of the same, parts in section on the line 6, 6, Fig. 5. Fig. 7, is a view in transverse section through the contact mechanism, showing one of the contacts in operative position and the other in retracted position, the reverse position of the contact members being indicated in dotted lines. Fig. 8, is a view similar to Fig. 7 showing in full lines the reverse position of the parts shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a view similar to Figs. 7 and 8, show ing a modified construction of contact mechanism embraced within the spirit and scope of our invention. Fig. 10, is a view in side elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 9.

The same part is designated by the same reference sign wherever it occurs throughout the several views.

In an application for patent filed by us September 11, 1905, Serial No. 277,855, we have shown, described and claimed a construction of automatic interlocking contact mechanism for electric railway systems adapted for use in the operation of electric cars, to which current is supplied to the motor through contact devices, or members, carried by the car, and making electric contact with current carrying conductors arranged in convenient relation with respect to the road-bed, the object being to provide such a mechanism for use on electric cars and in connection with current carrying conductors arranged in difi'erent positions and relations with respect to the track rails, whereby the same car may be operated over a road or system in connection with which the current carrying conductor occupies one position or relation with respect to the track rails, and also over a road or system having its current carrying conductor arranged in a different position or relation with respect to the track rails. To this end the invention shown, described and claimed in said application includes a plurality of contact members, each arranged to operate in connection with a current carrying conductor, the current carrying conductors being located and arranged at varying distances and relations to the track rails over which the car is de signed to operate. And in said application provision is made whereby when one contact member is in operative relation with respect to its current carrying conductor, the other contact member is out of operative position with respect to its corresponding conductor. The present invention relates specially to a contact mechanism for electric railway systems of this general character and purpose, and among the special objects had in view in the present construction is the provision of means whereby when 'either of the contact members is moved into retracted position it not only is positively locked in such retracted position, but it also automatically releases the positive lock mechan ism which holds or maintains the other contact member in its retracted position. It is also among the special purposes of the present invention to simplify the construction of automatic contact mechanism of the character referred to by mounting the several ber from operative to inoperative position,

and so constructed and mounted as to accommodate any sidew ise motion of the car or truck frame, or other support upon which the contact mechanism is mounted, and also capable of performing its function of shifting the contact member, into retracted position whether the car is proceeding along the track in one direction or the other. And also whereby the shock or jar incident to the engagement of the shifting guide or section with the contact member which it is designed to move into retracted position may be greatly relieved and reduced.

To the attainment of these various objects and purposes among others, and in a most cfiicient and simple manner, our present invention is directed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

reference sign A, designates somewhat diagrammatically a car; B, the track rails C, the truck wheels; and D, E, current carrying conductors for diiferent portions or sections of the railway system, or of different systems, and which are, with respect to each other, arranged at different distances "from the track rails, and at different heights above the track rails. In the particular exemplification of our invention, as shown in the drawings, to which our invention is not to be limited or restricted, the current carrying conductors are of the third-rail type, such as are commonly employed in connection with the elevated, underground, and sometimes in surface railroad systems. As shown, for purposes of illustration of our invention, the conductor D is arranged nearer to the track rails and rises higher above such rails than the conductor E.

The contact mechanism embodying the principles of our present invention, includes essentially a plurality of contact members mounted to rock or swing upon a common pivotal axis. For instance, and in the construction shown in Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8, we employ the contact members F, G, the former cooperating with current carrying conductor E, and the latter cooperating with the current carrying conductor D. These contact members are both mounted to rock in frame castings, or hangers J, the latter being suitably bolted, or otherwise secured to av con venient stringer or beam K, of the car body or truck, or other convenient part of the car. In the particular form shown in Figs. 5, 6, 7 & 8, to which, however, our invention is not to be limited or restricted, the contact member F is carried by arms L, suitably sleeved, or otherwise mounted to rock or swing freely upon stud H, and, if desired, a tension may -be applied to said arms or to said contact by arms N, which are mounted to rock upon a stud H, and said contact member G, may be yieldingly maintained normally in operative position in any suitable or convenient manner, as for instance, by means of springs O. In practice the arms L, are separated a suflicient distance apart, and the contact member F, is arranged at sufficient distance from stud H, as to enable the contact member G, to operate between said arms L, and in the space bet-ween contact member F, and stud H. If desired, and in order to prevent too great an extent of rocking or swinging movement of contacts F, or G, in the direction of the operative positions thereof, said contact members, or the carrying arms thereof, may be provided with extensions or lugs 1, Q, beyond their point of pivotal support upon stud H, and which respectively cooperate with a conveniently arranged fixed part B, of the frame castings, or arms J. In order to positively lock or retain the con tact members in their retracted positions, we provide detachable engaging devices S, having hooks A B, at the free ends thereof, These engaging devices S are pivotally mounted upon a stud C suitably mounted in the frame brackets, and, if desired, said engaging devices may be yieldingly maintained in operative position ready to engage the contact members, or the carrying arms thereof, when the latter are moved into retracted position, in a convenient manner, as for instance, by means of springs D and, in order to limit the extent of rocking movement of the engaging devices in the direction of engaging position, said devices may be provided with arms or fingers E cooperating with a convenient part of the fixed frame work to form limit stops. The contact member F, or the carrying arms thereof, are provided with lugs or projections F. with which the hook ends A engage, when said contact member is moved into retracted position, whereby said contact member is positively locked in its position. Similarly the contact member G, or the carrying arms thereof, are provided with engag ing lugs or projections G with which the hooked members or ends B, cooperate, when said contact member G is moved into retracted position, to positively lock and retain said contact 'member in such position. By reason of pivotally mounting the engaging members S, and yieldingly maintaining said members in engaging position, whenever a contact member is raised into inoperative position the engaging lugs or shoulders thereon ride past the hooked ends A, or B as the case may be, the engaging members yielding sufficiently for such purpose, thereby permitting the cooperating hooked ends thereof to properly engage the lugs or projections on the contact member so raised or moved into retracted position whereby said member becomes positively locked and held and main tained in. such position. Such movement at the same time effects a release of the engaging devices with the contact member which, previously had occupied, raisedor retracted position, thereby permitting said last mentioned contact member to move under the influence of gravity, or of its tension devices into or toward operative position, and cooperative relation with its corresponding current carrying conductor. Thus it will be seen that when either contact member is moved into retracted position the other contact member is released, while the contact which is moved into retracted position is en gagcd and positively locked in such position.

in Figs. 1, 2, S, and 4, we have shown a construction and arrangement of guide rail or section designed to accomplish the work of automatically and positively moving a contact member from operative position into retracted position during the passage of the car along its track rails, and at a point where the car is designed'to pass from one road to another, or from one system to another where current carrying conductors occupy di'll'erent positions and relations with respect to their corresponding track rails. This guide rail section is designated generally by refer ence sign ll, and in order to enable such guide rail section or portion to accomplish its proper function whether the carmoves along its track rails in one direction or the other, said guide section is made in substantially bow shape from end to end, as most clearly seen in Fig. It is desirable that in order to prevent undue wear upon the surface of the contact member which engages the guide section, a flat surface be presented to the surface of the contact member which engages such guide section, and to this end the engaging surface J of the guide section H is inclined spirally so that as the contact member rocks or swings into retracted position the surface thereof which bears against the'guide section is constantly presented to a .ilat surface of such section, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. In order to relieve the shock incident to the engagement of a contact member with a shifting or retracting guide section, especially in the case where the car moves rapidly past such a guide section, and also with aviewto compensate for any lateral or side motion of the truck, looseness of parts, or wear, we propose to yieldingly mount the guide section for slight movement toward and away from the plane or path of the contact member. To this end, and in the particular embodiment of our invention, as shown in the drawings, but to which, however, our invention ICC) is not to be limited or restricted, we mount Having now set forth the object and nathe guide section II upon a supporting bar ture of our invention, and constructions em- L and pivotally mount the latter, as at M upon a convenient cross-tie N, or other convenient part of the road-bed, the pivotal axes being arranged parallel with the track rails. And we propose to yieldingly support or hold the guide rail section in proper position to cooperate with its corresponding contact member. This result may be accomplished in many specifically different ways. WVe have shown a simple arrangement embodying the principles of our invention, wherein a threaded rod P is connected at one end, and at a' convenient point, to the guide section H and the other end arranged to pass through a bracket R mounted upon a standard or bracket S WVe interpose a spring A between a nut B threaded uponsaid rod and said bracket R By this construction the guide section is permitted a yielding movement away ffom the path of movement of its cooperating contact member, thereby not only compensating for any side movement of the truck, and also for any wear or looseness of the parts, but also relieving the contact member of undue shock or jar, as-said member rides up the surface of the guide member, and which might otherwise result in breakage of the contact member, or of its supporting arms.

In Figs. 9 and 10 we have shown a modified arrangement and construction of contact mechanism embraced within the spirit and scope of our invention, and also well adapted for use in connection with the guide rail section above referred to, and which, in practice, we have found to be simple in construction and efficient in operation. In this construction, to which, however, our invention is not to be limited or restricted, we form the contact members F and G integrally with the carrying arms L and said arms we sleeve to rock upon a stud H suitably mounted or 4 5 supported in hangers or arms of a bracket or castings J the latter being supported upon the beam or stringer of the truck frame or car. Suitable springs D may serve the purpose of normally rocking said contact members into operative position. In this form of construction the contact member F cooperates with the current conductor E, while contact member G cooperates with current carrying conductor D. In this form of device we omit the feature of the detachable, locking device, but the operation and cooperative relation of the guide section H remains the same as with the contact mechanism above described and shown in Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8. It is obvious that the guide section H may also carry current or not, as may be desired or required, according to the exigencies of its position and location with reference to the current carrying conductors.

bodying the principles thereof, and having described such constructions, their purpose, function, and operation, we desire it to be understood that our invention is not to be limited or restricted to the exact details shown and described, as many variations therefrom, and changes in the details of con struction thereof, might readily occur to persons skilled in the art and still fall within the spirit and scope of our invention.

We do not desire to claim herein the subject-matter claimed in our pending application Serial No. 277,855, above referred to. But

What we do claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a contact mechanism for electric cars operated over roads having current supply conductors, arranged in varying relation with respect to the track rails, a plurality of contact members pivotally mounted inde pendently upon a common axis, to be moved into and out of operative relation, and means whereby when one member is moved out of operative position the other is free to move into operative position.

2. In a contact mechanism of the character described, a plurality of contact members mounted independently upon a common axis, and pivoted hooks arranged to respectively engage said contact members when rocked into retracted position for positively locking said contact members individually in retracted position.

3. I11 a contact mechanism for electric cars a plurality of contacts mounted independently of each other upon a common axis, a positive locking mechanism for each of said contacts when moved into retracted position, and means whereby when one of said contact members is moved into retracted position to be locked, the locking devices of the other contact member are released.

4. In a contact mechanism for electric cars, a plurality of independently mountedcontacts, engaging locks or projections carried by each of said contacts, and a pivoted member having a corresponding plurality of hooks respectively arranged to engage said lugs or projections to positively lock or retain said contact members individually in re' tracted position.

5. In a contact mechanism for electric cars, a plurality of contact members pivotally mounted upon a common axis, each of said contacts provided with engaging lugs or projections, engaging devices cooperating with said lugs or projections, when said contact members are moved into retracted position; and means whereby when one of said contact members is moved into retracted position to be engaged and locked in such position, the

engaging devices which maintain the other contact member in retracted position are dis engaged.

6. In a contact mechanism for electric cars, a plurality of independent, pivotally mounted, contact members, devices for engaging and positively locking said contact members, individually, when moved into retracted position, and means whereby when one of said members is moved into retracted position the engaging devices for the other member are automatically disengaged.

7. In a contact mechanism for electric cars, a plurality of contact members, yieldingly mounted, engaging devices cooperating with said members to positively engage and lock the same, individually, in retracted position, and means whereby when one of said members is moved into retracted position to be engaged and positively locked in such position, the other of said members is released from engaging relation with respect to its locking devices.

8. The combination of a plurality of contact rails arranged at different distances from the running track, with a contact mechanism including a supporting bracket or casting carried by the car, a stud mounted thereon, contact members pivotally mounted independently of each other upon said stud, and a member having engaging hooks respec tively arranged to engage and hold the contact members in retracted position.

9. The combination with a plurality of contact rails arranged at different distances from the running track, of a supporting bracket or casting, a stud mounted therein, a plurality of contact members pivotally mounted independently of each other upon said stud, said contact members having contact surfaces to respectively cooperate with said contact rails, means for yieldingly impelling said contact members toward contact relation with their respective contact rails, and engaging devices arranged to engage said contact members to retain the same in retracted position.

10. The combination with a plurality of contact rails arranged at different distances from the running track, of a supporting bracket or casting, a stud mounted therein, a plurality of contact members independently pivoted at one end upon said stud, means normally operating to yieldingly maintain said contact members in operative position, engaging devices adapted to respectively engage said contact members when moved into retracted position to positively lock the same in such position, and means whereby, when one contact member is moved into retracted position, another member is released from its engaging device.

11. In a contact mechanism for electric cars, a supporting bracket or casting, a stud mounted therein, a plurality of contact members independently pivoted upon said stud, and engaging devices pivotally mounted upon said bracket or casting, and adapted to respectively engage said contact members, when moved into retracted position, to positively lock the same in such retracted position.

12. The combination with a plurality of conductors arranged at dill'erent distances from the running track, of a plurality of contact members, a support upon which said members are pivotally mounted for rocking movement independently oi each other said members respectively cooperating with said conductors and a guide section of bowed form for positively moving one of said contact members out of operative position with reference to its corresponding conductor whether the car moves in one direction or another.

13. The combination of a plurality of conductors arranged at difl'erent distances from the running track, of a plurality of contact members, a support upon which such members are pivotally mounted for independent rocking movement, said members having contact surfaces respectively mounted to cooperate with said conductors, a guide rail having curved ends with which one of said contact members cooperates, and by which said member is moved into retracted position whether the car moves in one direction or another, means for engaging the retracted contact member to retain the same in retracted position, and means whereby, when one member is retracted, another member is released from retracted position.

14. In a contact device for electric cars, a plurality of contact members, movably mounted upon the car, to be moved into or. out of operative position, and a movable guide rail or section for moving one of said contact members out of operative position.

15. In a contact mechanism for electric cars, a movable contact device carried by the car, and a yieldingly mounted guide section arranged to be engaged by said contact device during the movement of the car along its track, whereby said contact is moved out of operative position.

16. In a contact device for electric cars, a contact member .movably mounted upon the car, and a pivotally mounted guide section withwhich saitl contact co-operates and by which said contact is positively moved into retracted position.

17. In a contact mechanism for electric cars, a contact member pivotally mounted upon the car,in combination with a guide section adapted to be engaged by said contact member, whereby said member is moved into retracted position, said guide section being yieldingly mounted.

18. In a contact mechanism for electric cars, a contact member pivotally mounted,

in combination with a guide section with which said contact member cooperates, and by which said member is positively moved into retracted position, said guide section having an inclined surface at each end there'- of, said surface being arranged in a spiral, whereby a flat surface is presented to the contact surface of the member during the rocking movement of the latter into retracted position.

19. In a contact mechanism for electric cars, a pivotally supported contact member, a current carrying conductor with which said contact member cooperates, in combination with a yielding guide section arranged to be engaged by the contact member, wherebythe latter is moved out of co operative relation with respect to said current carrying conductor, and, into retracted position.

20. In a contact mechanism for electric cars, a contact member movably mounted, and a current carrying conductor with which said contact member cooperates, in combination with a pivotally mounted guide section arranged to be engaged by said contact member as the car moves along its track rails, whereby said contact member is moved out of contact relation with its cooperating conductor and into retracted position, and means for yieldingly maintaining said guide section in position to be engaged said contact member.

I 21. In a contact mechanism for electric cars, a movably mounted contact member,

and a conductor with which said contact member cooperates, in combination'with a movably mounted guide section with which said contact member engages as the car moves along, whereby said contact member is moved out of contact with said conductor and into retracted position, and means for positively locking said contact member in retractedposition.

22. In a contact mechanism for electric cars, a plurality of contact members movably mounted, and conductor rails with which said contact members respectively cooperate, in combination with a guide section arranged to be engaged by one of said contact members as the car moves along, whereby said contact is moved out of contacting relation with respect to its corresponding conductor and into retracted position, and means for yieldingly maintaining said guide section in position to be engaged by said contact member.

23. In a contact mechanism for electric cars, a plurality of contact members pivotally mounted upon a common aXis to rock or swing into and out of operative position, and current carrying conductors with which said contact members respectively cooper-.

ate, in combination with a movably mounted guide section arranged to be engaged by one of said contact members as the car moves along whereby said contact member is moved out of contact relation with respect to its corresponding conductor and into retracted position.

24. In a contact mechanism for electric cars, a plurality of contact members independently pivoted upon a common aXis, and conductors with which said contact members respectively cooperate, in combination with a movably mounted section arranged to be engaged by one of said contact members, as the car moves along, to shift or rock the same from contact relation with respect to its corresponding conductor, and into retracted position, locking devices for positively maintaining said contact members in retracted position, and means whereby when one of said contact members is moved into retracted position, the locking. devices for the other contact member are released.

25. In a contact mechanism for electric cars, a contact member movably mounted, and a conductor with which said contact member cooperates, in combination with an in clined guide section arranged to be engaged by said contact member, whereby the latter is moved out of contact relation with respect to its conductor, and into retracted position, a pivotally mounted support for said guide section, and means for yieldingly maintaining said guide section in position to be engaged by said contact member as the car moves along its track rails.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hand this 5th day of October 1905, in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

FRANK HEDLEY. JAMES S. DOYLE. HJALMAR WALLERSTEDT.

I/Vitnesses:

GEORGE KEEGAN, H. M. NORRIS.

IOC 

